Multiple cable connector



MULTIPLE CABLE CONNECTOR l Filed July 30,

ma. 21g-ma ATTORNEY.

Patented Jan. 5, 1943 MULTIPLE CABLE CONNECTOR Marvin Lee, Rye, N. Y., assignor to Burndy Engineering Compan New York y, Inc., a corporation of Application July 30, :1940, Serial No. 348,377

(Cl. 174-72) y There is thus provided a suitable space for the 3 Claims.

My invention relates to multiple cable connectors.

The principal object of my invention is to pr'ovide a compact electrical connector for a plurality of cables, which will be compact, fully insulated and convenient to support and rack in underground vaults, manholes and handholes.

Another object of my invention is to provide a connector which is low in cost.

A further object consists in providing a multiplel connector especially adapted for use with an indenting tool.

vide a connector which may be conveniently manufactured with' any of a variety of numbersy of individual cable terminals; said connectors all being insulated in the same rubber mold.

I accomplish these and other objects and obtain my new results as will be apparent from the device described in the following specification, particuiarly pointed out in the attached claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view, partially in section of my device.

Fig. 2 is a side view, partially in section of the same, taken along line 2--2 oi Fig, 1.

Fig, 3 is an end sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end view.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 3 of the drawing, reference numeral I0, indicates a. tubular section of copper tubing having a central substantially iiattened section i l. A dat bus bar l2, is brazed, soldered, riveted, bolted, or otherwise rigidly attached to the flattened section ll of two or more of these tubing sections i0.

The flattened bar l2 should have a thickness, which, preferably, does not cause it to extend beyond the unfiattened tubing. Thus the maximum thickness of the multiple connector need not exceed the diameter of the tubing used for establishing the connections, an important consideration in obtaining th'e most compact connector and one of minimum size.

The tubular connectors are designed for indentation on the electrical stranded cables inserted therein. The tool for producing the indentations requires a considerable space around the tubular sections l0, and accordingly I have formed my multiple connector in units of pairs separated by sufficient space in between the pairs to permit the tool to be inserted therein. Thus in Fig. 1, tubular sections l5 and I6 are spaced from each other by a smaller distance than l5 and l1.

tool to be inserted between I6 and ll for use on tubular sections I6 and Il. Sections l5 and I8 are indented by applying the tool, from the ends of the connector.

vIn placing the rubber insulation over the connector body, I prefer to use a mold adapted to accommodate a connector having the maximum number of outlets. .Where less than the maximum is-needed, the yunused portion of the mold may be blocked off by a suitable stopper and a connector having a lesser number of outlets may be properly insulated. This is accomplished by reason of the thin bus bar connecting each tubing section which enables the cross-sectional area between sections to be blocked by a stopper of uniform cross-section. Thus numerous cable combinations may be insulated in a single mold, a great economy. In preparing the mold for the insulation process, a plug 28 is inserted adjacent each of the openings 2| oi the tubular sections, and the insulation 22 molded over the tubular section and the plugs. A beaded section 23 and 2li, is provided on each side of the junction, which may be cut, when the connection is desired and the bead provides a satisfactory method of rolling back theinsulation on itself to expose the tubular section for the indenting process.

The iiat shape of myconnector makes it very easy to support in the manhole since it can be reached on standard cable racks or laid flat alongside or over the other. Since there are three phases and a neutral on practically all alternating current circuits, at least this number of connectors is required in each underground vault, manhole or handhole and space is at a premium in which these connectors l may be placed. The flat shape which I have thus provided is, therefore, most desirable.

I have thus described my invention, but I desirelit understood that it is not confined to the particular forms or uses 'shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, therefore, I claim broadly the right to employ all equivalent instrumentalities coming within the scope of the appended claims, and by means of which, objects of my invention are attained and new results accomplished, as it is obvious that the particular embodiments herein shown and described are only some of the many that can be employed to attain these objects and accomplish these results.

what r claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

I claim:

1. A multiple connector comprising two or more sections of copper tubing attenedat their central portions, anda flat bus bar, having a width substantially equal tothe length of -the ilattened portions, and rigidly attached to the outside of the flattened portions of the tubing so as to prevent movement thereon to provide a multiple connector with the tubing sections arranged parallel to one another. e

2. A multiple connector comprising two or more sections of copper tubing flattened at their central portions, and a nat bus bar, having a width substantially equaLto the length of the y nattened portions, and a thiclmess substantially equal to one-half the diameter'of the tubing,

tened portions of the tubing so as to prevent movement thereon to provide a multiple conl nector with the tubing sections arranged parallel to one another.

3, A multiple connector comprising three or more sections of copper tubing ilattened at their central portions, and a dat bus bar, having a width substantially equal to the length of the attened portions, and rigidly attached to the outside of the flattened portions of the tubing so as to prevent movement thereon to provide a multiple connector with the tubing sections arranged parallel to one another, said tubing sections spacedfrom each other a greater distance 'between each even and succeeding odd numbered sections, than between the odd and succeeding even numbered sections, starting from one end thereof. 

